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Ah, our free press: No word on the ethnicity or religiosity of the individuals, no word on whether they exhibited any signs of ritual cleansing, where they came from, what passports (could it be SAUDI?) they were carrying. Just some "behavior." Now let's all sing Kumbaya.

Want to make a bet what ethnicity these people are? I can already tell you since they did not even mention it in the article. This is shameful reporting.

http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=930935&nav=2uEGBBaI

FT. SMITH - Five News was first on the air to tell you that a Northwest Airlines airbus flight number 979 had been diverted to the Fort Smith airport.

The flight, carrying about 95 people, took off from Memphis about 8:45 a.m. this morning and was headed to Las Vegas.

Police say four suspicious men, who appeared to be of middle eastern descent, were on board the flight. Officials tell us that the crew was negotiating with the suspects through the bathroom door after the flight landed.

All passengers were taken off the flight safely.

The four suspects were led away in handcuffs.

At this time, local police have taken over the investigation. Right now a portion of Phoenix Avenue is closed to traffic as a safety precaution.

Five News will have updates for you on this breaking story as more details become available.

AP to the rescue! It's not terrorism! Keep moving....

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- A Northwest Airlines jet diverted to Fort Smith on Wednesday after four passengers behaved strangely on the flight, including at least three who locked themselves in a bathroom, officials said.

Flight 979, an Airbus A320 traveling from Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas with 94 passengers and a crew of five, landed at Fort Smith late Wednesday morning, Northwest spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert said. No one was reported hurt.

Federal officials said the diversion was not related to terrorism.

Sgt. Jarrard Copeland, of the Fort Smith Police Department, said members of the flight crew became concerned about the passengers' behavior and were unable to resolve the situation in the air.

"Some of the crew members because suspicious because of some of the actions taken by the four subjects," Copeland said.

Northwest Airlines said the pilots decided to land at Fort Smith's municipal airport as a precaution.

The FBI will question the four suspects (two of them are pictured, above), Copeland said.

The plane's passengers will be put on another flight to Las Vegas, he said.

The airport was closed for 30 minutes, and the military says no fighter jets were scrambled to escort the Airbus A-320.

In Arkansas, the Associated Press reported that three passengers locked themselves in a bathroom, and the other passengers departed from the plane safely. Jim Harris, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Huckabee, said the three men appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.

The Governor seems to think it is important enough to mention.